South Coast

Overview

Introduction

The south coast of Sri Lanka contains plenty of sleepy beach towns that are perfect if you want nothing more than to relax on the beach and play in the sea. The 12-mi/19-km beach at Tangalle is stunning and uncrowded, though the surf can be too rough for swimming at times. Mirissa, even smaller than Tangalle, has a picturesque palm-lined cove and more palatable waves. Just west of Mirissa, around the town of Weligama, you'll see stilt fisherfolk casting their lines just offshore. Perched on their poles, reeling in small fish with Buddhist calm, they are a popular subject for photographers and artists. Farther west, the small Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum in Koggala has an interesting collection of folk art, including masks, wooden board games and oil lamps. The south coast begins 100 mi/160 km south of Colombo.

Request Full Destination Guide

To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.